Dallas County Democrats
News Archives

This site is an ARCHIVE of the website used for the Dallas County Democratic Party from 2000 to May of 2002, and which was built by the then Chair Bill Howell. Though some information here will be relevant through the 2002 elections, other pages here are of interest for history or research. For the latest updated news about the Dallas County Democratic Party, see their own website at www.dallasdemocrats.org.

Opinions mixed in with the facts here, unless otherwise attributed, were those of the then County Chair, Bill Howell. If you disagree, please blame him, not the party. Thanks.

AUGUST 2001

CANDIDATES:

Still more have announced. The latest info we have is always posted here.

KARMA COMING BACK TO SOMEONE:

There's a brouhaha in Utah about this weekend's state Republican convention. It seems that Vice-Resident Dick Cheney (the only real CEO the government's got) is going to be speaking. The Secret Service is insisting that no guns will be allowed in the hall while he's there. This has incensed some gun advocates, who are calling for protests, signs, booing, etc., and demanding an apology from the Veep.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported: "State Republican Director Scott Parker said the gun restrictions will be lifted after Cheney leaves the building, allowing those who wish to retrieve legally concealed weapons from their vehicles to do so in time for voting on party officers. But critics claim that compromise still violates their rights and leaves them at risk of attack."

I hope this convention is televised. It must be something to watch, if the delegates need guns to vote on party officers because they might be attacked. We've had some fierce splits at our conventions, but never anything like this. I'm sure they know best about their own fellow Republicans. One more reason I'm happy to be a Democrat.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PRESIDENT CLINTON

Democrats.com has arranged with the office of former President Clinton for birthday greetings sent by e-mail to be delivered to him personally.

Please join us in thanking the last legally elected President of the United States for his dedication to public service. And let's encourage him to be the most vigorous, active and influential ex-president we've ever had. His birthday is Sunday, August 19th. Please send your birthday greetings to: [email protected]

BLOOD DRIVE AT LABOR DAY PICNIC

Again this year at our Labor Day Picnic, Carter Blood Care, a non-profit community blood center, will have a van present so that anyone can give blood. It only takes a few moments and may help save lives (maybe someone in your own family -- donors and their families become members of the LifePlan for a year). Although the need increases on a holiday weekend like this one, this will be the only blood drive they are doing that day. The van will be there from 1:30 to 5:30 PM, near the Magnolia Lounge at Fair Park (Grand Avenue entrance), on Monday, September 3.

LOCAL PAC MEETING

The Dallas County Victory PAC, which helps county-wide candidates, had a meeting of many likely candidates for Judge and other offices this week, explaining the process of circulating petitions to get on the ballot, rules about campaign finance, etc. Bruce Rothstein also spoke about, and Bill Howell gave out a flyer about, the importance of all the candidates working together as a team for the Democratic ticket as a whole.

Thanks to Justice of the Peace Luis Sepulveda for providing the space and the refreshments. It looks like we're going to have a lot of good local candidates next year. If you're thinking of running in a county-wide race, please contact former Justice Charles McGarry at 214-748-0800 or email him: cmcgarry AT ix.netcom.com.

RUMORS

Stories are out that both Dallas Mayor RON KIRK and former state Attorney General DAN MORALES say they are considering running for the U.S. Senate next year. That would be for the seat now held by Phil Gramm. Despite Gramm's denials, rumors continue that he hopes to be appointed to head up Texas A&M. This could get interesting.

COVERAGE

The growing number of candidates is helping bring more local news attention. Serious competition for our nominations for Governor and Lieutenant Governor helps. Among other recent stories were several about the gross gerrymander the Republicans are trying to pull with redistricting. There are a lot of suits in court now over that. Bill Howell was quoted saying no honest and competent judge would uphold those lines. (Let's hope one hears it!)

A Dallas Observer story told how they were targeting HARRYETTE EHRHARDT by putting the very Republican Park Cities in her district. She announced at her August birthday party that she is running anyway - she's FROM the Park Cities, so she's not scared.

LISA MCKNIGHT hit the jackpot with a cover story in the Texas Lawyer about her race against Craig Fowler for Judge in District 255 Family Court. He's the one who was just reprimanded by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, and was the subject of a Channel 8 story concerning allegations of his playing solitaire on his computer during court.

IMPEACH THE SUPREMES?

We've been getting email about an effort beginning to call for the removal of the five Extreme Court members who proved Boss Tweed's old saying "In counting there is strength" when they gave George Jr. the keys to the White House. There's an article about it here.

The Oregon Democratic Party passed a resolution in support. Although it seems mild, comments to the media made it clear that impeachment is the goal. You can find it here.

The National Lawyers guild has also put up a website about it. Among other things it links to a strong article from The Nation by Vincent Bugliosi denouncing their Florida decision. Their site is here.

On the other hand, support for this strategy is not universal among all Democrats. One which questions it is here.

As always, you are encouraged to read it all, think for yourself, and make up your own mind.

JULY 2001

VACANCY AND FULFILLMENT

We're about to have another vacancy on the Executive Committee. After 25 years of shared Democratic activism, Precinct Chair Vivienne Armstrong (who I am proud to say seconded my nomination for County Chair), and former SDEC member (and former DGPC President) Dr. Louise Young are moving away. Their absence will be a great loss to the Party. But there is joyful news as well.

Imagine this. It's 1950, before the courts started striking down racial segregation. You're living in the deep South. You've just fallen in love with someone and you both want to get married. Unfortunately, you don't have the same skin color. The law says you not only can't get married, but you can't have a common-law marriage either, and in fact even making love in private would be a crime for the two of you. It was only 50 years ago, yet those laws are seen now as barbaric insanity - just like the laws from 150 years ago that said some human beings could be sold as slaves, and that women couldn't vote or own property.

But back in 1950 -- what if you got a chance to move to another state that didn't have such laws, so that you could legally marry your beloved and live out your lives together?

Today I got this by email:

"We are moving expressly to take advantage of the opportunity to be 'legal' in Vermont. We worked our entire adult lives to gain this right and we must experience it firsthand. Our civil union was July 24th, 2000 in Brattleboro, VT, and Brattleboro will be our new home....The Democratic Party and the gay rights movement here in Dallas have been the wonderful vehicles by which (we hope) we were able to make a difference in this world. That is what life is all about....Best wishes to ...all our Dallas Democratic friends....Warmest regards, Louise and Vivienne."

They have made a difference. I hope they have all of our best wishes and prayers, and that you share my happiness that they can obtain a reward for their efforts while still in this world.

When another 50 - or 150 - years have passed, will people be shocked at any of our laws of today?

REDISTRICTING -- WHAT NOW?

On July 24 the Legislative Redistricting Board met and adopted new lines for legislative districts for Texas. The lines are nothing but a partisan Republican gerrymander, designed to seize control of the state House of Representatives for the next ten years, and to greatly increase Republican control of the state Senate.

Partly this is a desperate last grasp for power, because they have seen the demographic trends. They know that unless they change the overwhelming opposition to them by minorities, then beginning a decade from now they will be politically dead for generations to come. They are trying to grab all they can now, because they aren't willing to change their own stripes -- or scent.

To see the maps and the data for them, see this website: www.tlc.state.tx.us/tlc/research/redist/lrbadopt.htm

There were already lawsuits filed against pending plans and there will be even more now. So the whole thing will be decided in the courts - perhaps years from now.

If you want a few local low points about the plans, consider these. It looks like David Cain no longer lives in his own state Senate district. It's tough to tell from the state web site, but he lives either in Royce West's 23rd district, where the Republicans tried to pack as many Democrats as they could, or John Carona's much more Republican 16th district. Dale Tillery's state House district no longer exists. If I read the map right he lives in Terry Hodge's district now. Harryette Ehrhardt's district 107 has been moved away to take in the much more Republican Lake Highlands and White Rock Lake areas. She now lives in a district which includes both of the Park Cities, the most unshakeable Republican stronghold here. These are only minor points in comparison to the horrors this plan imposed on the rest of the state.

These new lines are so grossly in violation of the law and the Constitution and just plain common sense that I'd like to say the courts will certainly throw them out. But ultimately court cases can go on appeal to the U.S. Extreme Court. Remember, this is the same black-robed lynch mob of bald-faced liars who stole the last election for our current president-select. The actual argument made to them will be, in effect, you were willing to break the law and steal the election for George the Lesser, so why not just bend the law a lot and let us steal some district lines in Texas? So they have put themselves in a logical box. Just like you can't be only partly pregnant, you can't be only partly morally corrupt. Karma comes back to you.

I don't advocate violent gestures, but I know that if I ever hear Ralph Nader or any of his blithely short- sighted Greens repeat his claim that "the Supreme Court doesn't matter" I will feel like spitting in his face. I'm going to try and redirect my anger toward defeating every Republican I can next year. And it looks like we'll have a good chance to do so.

Former Judge Charles McGarry, head of the Dallas County PAC that helps county-wide Democratic candidates, held a meeting last week for people who might be interested in running here next year. THREE DOZEN PEOPLE showed up, mostly interested in races for judge. With the showing of Mary Huey and Chuck Munoz here last year, and with the ongoing display of malevolent irrelevance in the White House and incompetent floundering in the Governor's mansion, it looks like we have a wonderful opportunity here in 2002 no matter what happens to the legislature's districts. It will take lots of work, and lots of time, and lots of money (hint, hint). [If you're interested in running for a county-wide office, call Charles at 214-748-0800 or email him: [email protected].]

Our motivation should not be revenge. The fact that some Democratic politicians may be out of a job is only a matter of personal interest. The important victims of this crime will be the helpless people not represented -- children, elderly, uninsured ill, uneducated, pollution-poisoned, poor, racial and ethnic minorities, gays and lesbians, and any other group that makes an easy scapegoat for Republican demagogues to blame for the problems they cause or make worse themselves. Those victims are the ones whose futures we will be fighting for.

Come join us.

New Map Out For The New Justice of the Peace, Constable, And Commissioners Districts

We finally have a copy of these maps, showing the current precincts, at the party office. (It's on the Dallas County Elections Department website, but very hard to read.) Come by the party office and look at it to see which district you're in now.

The Commissioner's Court drastically changed the Justice of the Peace lines, reducing the number of districts from 8 to 5, and eliminating two JPs. In fact getting rid of those two might have been their real reason for this seemingly backwards step, since the population of the county has not shrunk. One of the two they are getting rid of is a Democrat, Charles Rose. The new lines are of course drawn to make it harder to elect more Democrats. What else should we expect from a very partisan four-to-one Republican majority on the Court?

This is just one more sign of how important this often-overlooked body is. Three of these four Republicans will be up for reelection next year. At least one of them needs to be replaced by a Democrat -- two would be better still.

JUNE 2001

REPUBLICAN CHUTZPAH

The classic example of chutzpah is a person who kills his parents then asks for mercy because he is an orphan. Here's a new example that's just about as gross. Trent Lott is losing his post as Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, since Jeffords's switch gives Democrats the majority now. According to the New York Times, Lott called the switch by Jeffords "the impetuous decision of one man to undermine our democracy."

He added "WE HAVE A MORAL OBLIGATION TO RESTORE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR DEMOCRACY, TO RESTORE BY THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WHAT WAS CHANGED IN THE SHADOWS OF THE BACK ROOMS IN WASHINGTON. We must begin to battle today to restore the Republican majority in the Senate and fulfill the promises of the election of 2000." [emphasis added]

This kind of gall boggles the mind. The promise of the 2000 election was that Al Gore would take office, since more Americans voted for him. The "integrity of our democracy" was indeed "changed in the shadows of the back rooms in Washington" -- but it happened at the U.S. Supreme Court. We must make sure the people remember what really happened there and don't fall for this tactic of the "big lie" from Lott or any reptilian usurpers.

BUMPER STICKERS

Yes, if you don't have one on your car yet, we still have some "RE-ELECT GORE 2004" bumper stickers, for a suggested $2 contribution at the party office. We also have stickers for the 2002 race for Governor of Texas for both Democratic contenders: MARTY AKINS and TONY SANCHEZ. Help spread the word!

PRO-CHOICE CAUCUS

State Committee member and former Dallas County Chair Lisa Payne is forming a Pro-Choice caucus of the state Democratic Party. The first meeting will be at the State Convention in 2002, there are no dues, and the caucus is open to pro-choice Texas Democrats of any gender, age, ethnicity, etc. To sign up, send your name, mail address, phones, email address (and whether or not you want to get email alerts) to: Lisa Y. Payne, 631 Meadowbrooke Place, Duncanville, Texas 75137, or email her: lypayne AT flash.net.

YOUNG DEMOCRATS

A Young Democrats chapter has formed in Dallas County and elected new officers. They will be meeting on the third Saturday of each month. This month they'll be at the DCDP office at 4209 Parry in Dallas (see our website for directions) at 10 AM on June 16. If you're under 35 come join in. For more info: the new President is Jason Noel, email: jtn519 AT hotmail.com, and the new Membership Director is Jeff Strater, email: jeffstrater AT usa.net.

GOT ANY COMPUTERS YOU'RE NOT USING?

One way to help out the party office is a donation of old computers that aren't being used any more. (That's how we've gotten most of our equipment over the years.) We are actually using machines that are as slow as 100 mhz processors with 32 mb RAM. Running them is like eating peanut butter through a straw -- it's VERY VERY SLOW. If you've upgraded your equipment and would like to see the old stuff put to good Democratic use by donating it to us, instead of junking or recycling it, please call us.

Democrats Take Control Of U.S. Senate

By now you've probably heard the great news from Washington: Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont is quitting the Republican Party and becoming an independent who will vote with the Democrats to organize the U.S. Senate. Since they were split 50-50 before, with the Vice-President breaking the tie in favor of the Republicans, this means the Senate will now have a Democratic majority. Because of that all the Senate Committees will be chaired by Democrats. This gives us a better chance to slow down or stop some of the ignorant, stupid, or dangerous proposals of President-select Bush.

Jeffords has always disagreed with the far-right takeover of the Republicans, but this switch is also a result of vicious treatment of him by Bush and his party. Jeffords had insisted on moderating Bush's irresonsibly huge tax cut for the rich. As a result Bush then refused to invite Jeffords to the White House when he gave national honors to a teacher - who happened to be from Jeffords' own state. Other Republicans were openly talking of steps against the dairy industry of Vermont just to get back at him.

This kind of petty vindictiveness, a rule-or-ruin, demonize anyone who disagees, and destroy your opponents approach has been tried before, by Richard Nixon. It was a disaster for the country and for him as well. As the saying goes "karma comes back to you", and if you treat people like this you will hurt yourself. Sadly, Bush has proved he learned nothing from this by saying he will continue his short-sighted and polarizing policies regardless. Like John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison, the two previous descendants of Presidents, who each won fewer votes than another candidate but took office anyway, Bush is guaranteeing himself a single term in the White House.

Consider this paragraph from Saturday's Washington Post: Even in President Bush's home state of Texas, Republicans are privately worried about maintaining their domination. "We've just about maxed out what we are going to get from white guys," said a Texas Republican strategist, in the face of a growing Hispanic community and an increasingly active African American electorate. "At some point, we are going to flip over and become another California," he said, referring to a state that once voted Republican in presidential elections but is now firmly in the Democratic fold. (� 2001 The Washington Post Company)

Think about what four years of the Gore-Lieberman administration would have meant for the Economy, the Environment, Education ... and Everything Else. As Thomas Paine said, we have it in our power to make the world over again. With Democratic victories here and nationwide in 2002 and 2004, that's just what we are going to do.

MAY 2001

On Friday, May 11, Governor Perry SIGNED THE JAMES BYRD JR. HATE CRIMES BILL INTO LAW!!!

THANKS to all of you who helped by contacting him and urging him to do the right thing. If you want to thank him or the Democratic Senators who voted for the bill, see this page for contact information.

APRIL 2001

CANDIDATES

Expecting a better year for Democrats in 2002, several candidates are already gearing up to run. We were just visited by LINDA REYNA YANEZ, a Justice on the 13th Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi, who is expected to run for the Texas Supreme Court next year. The Democratic Forum will be hosting a reception for likely candidate for Governor TONY SANCHEZ on April 26 (see Calendar). We were just phoned by yet another Democrat running for Governor, MARTY AKINS, who already has his own website up. And several very promising candidates for Judge here in Dallas County have been talking to us. As Robert Duval said in that movie "It smells like victory!"

PARTY OFFICE STAFF???

Since the election Gore really won, the county party has not had any paid staff. Recently some people have applied to be hired as an Executive Director, such as Tarrant County has now and we had several years ago. Such a person can serve as a sort of office manager - volunteer coordinator - event planner - media contact - etc. This could help us gear up for the exciting 2002 elections, but we don't really have enough money to hire anyone unless they are also good at political fundraising.

So, we are looking for two things. One is the best person for the job (and we have two great candidates to start with). If you or someone you know might be qualified and able to take on the challenge, send us a resume. The second thing is the money to pay for this stepped-up effort in the county. To do this we would need LOTS of new Sustaining Members (and renewals!) at $120/year or $10/month. (You can find details here.) It's up to you: if you're willing to help seize this opportunity, let us know.

BIGOTRY *STILL* HAS NO PLACE IN OUR PARTY

In last year's primary one candidate's campaign put out a mailing that was a vile piece of hate-mongering filth about an opponent. Publicity about the hate mail backfired on the demagogue and they were badly defeated. I sent them an open letter denouncing this and stating that our policy was not to cooperate in providing lists, labels, or anything else to help such a campaign. I never heard from the candidate, but someone else in the campaign called up to complain.

That other person has surfaced again, working for a candidate in this year's council races. I repeated that we don't work with hate-mongers. He proved he had not learned his lesson by shouting at me "That's just politics! You can't tell us how to run campaigns!" and threatening to picket the office. Well, we've been picketed before (by Nader supporters last fall). I can only say that I would be proud to be picketed by bigots because I won't help them spread their poison. Morality DOES belong in politics.

PERSONAL NOTE

Precinct Chair Bruce Rothstein and Sarah have produced a brand new Democrat, Ethan Joseph, 8 lbs. 5 oz. on March 25. All are fine.

HELP PROVIDE MAMMOGRAMS FOR LOW-INCOME WOMEN

We're passing on this note from SDEC member and former County Chair Lisa Payne. This is free. Early detection works. Please help out.

"I know many of you have seen this before but help is needed as they aren't meeting goals. Spread the word." --Lisa Payne

43,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. Funding for mammography screening for underprivileged women, paid for by site sponsors, is generated when you click on the "Donate Free Mammograms" button on www.thebreastcancersite.com. In the first month of this year, this generated funds to provide 200 mammograms, with your help the lives of over 2,000 underprivileged women will be touched in 2001.

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